Web-perfecting press.



1. L. FIRM.

WEB PERFECTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYT. 1915.

Patented Apr. 11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' J. L. HRM.

, was PERFECTING PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. I915.

' Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

E- STAES JOSEPH L. FIRM, or BERWYN, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANIOX CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OE LLINOIS.

WEB-PERFECTING PRESS.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosEPH- L. FIRM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Berwyn, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Web-Perfecting Presses, Ofwhich the following is a specification, re'ference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to. web-perfecting presses and particularly to that type of press which is adapted to be used for printing in colors either by the use of printing plates of the ordinary type adapted to impress the colors directly from the plates upon the web or by the use of lithographic plates which deposit the ink upon transfer cylinders for ink from the transfer cylinder and for keep-.

ing the transfer cylinder clean during the operation of the machine.-

It is another object of my inventionto prove web perfecting presses of the general typeset forth in sundry details hereinafter set forth,

The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illlusv trated in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. v

' That which I believe to be new and desire I to cover by this application is set forth in of my improved press; Fig. 2 is an enlargeddetail, being a transverse vertical section through one of the cylinders forming apart of my .improved cylinder-cleaning mechanism, being a section taken substantially on line,22 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 3 is'a Side view of theparts shown in Fig. 2, being partly Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 11, 1916, Application filed May 7, 1915. Serial No. 26,497.

broken away, and being partly in section as seen uponthe line 3+3 of Fi 2.

Referring. to the several figures of the drawings, in which corresponding parts are indlcated by the same reference characters;- 10 indicates a combination transfer and impression cylinder. An impression cylinder 11 is adapted to berevolved in contact with the cylinder 10. Plate-cylinders 12-.13 are adapted to be revolved in contact with the cylinder 10, in the construction shown each of the plate-cylinders 1213 being provided with two plates 14: comprising lithographic plates of any suitable construction.

Adjacent to each of the plate-cylinders l2-13 is a water mechanism 15' adapted to apply a thin film of water to lithographic plates carried by said cylinders, or adapted to be moved back out of operative position, or to be otherwise thrown out of operation, when stereotype plates or other printing plates of the ordinary type areemployed, the

term printing plates being used throughout the speclfication and claims to designate a distinctly relief printing plate as distin 80 Adjacent to the plate-cylinders 1213 are guished from a lithographic plate.

inking mechanisms -1617, respectively, adapted to apply inktothe plates carried by the said plate-cylinders. The inking-mechanism 16 comprises two ink-fountains 18-49, together with means of the ordinary type for transferring ink from the fountain for distribution, and the inking-mechanism 17 is likewise provided with two fountalns 2021.

The plate-cylinders 121 3 are adapted to berotated in either direction as hereinafter described. As will be readily understood,

when the plate-cylinders are rotatedin counterclockwise direction as indicated by the .arrows in Fig. 1, the ink-fountains 19 and '20 will be employed; when. the plate-cylinders are revolved in the opposite direction, the ink-fountains 18 and 21 will be employed.

to be removed from operative position when the cylinder 10 is being used as animpression cylinder. The cleaning mechanism comprises composition-rollers 2223 adapt-- ed to contact the rubber surface of the trans- Means is provided for cleaning the sur-- 12-13 provided with lithographic plates,

the ink is transferred from the lithographic plates to the transfer cylinder 10, the greater part of such ink being transferred in turn from the cylinder 10 to. a web 25.

passing from a roll 26 about the impression cylinder 11. The surplus ink is then transferred from the rubber surface of the transfer cylinder 10 to the composition-rollers 23-22 and from such composition-rollers to the iron surface of the cylinder 24.

Means is provided for cleaning the surface ofthe cylinder 24 comprising a tank 27 provided with means in contact with which the cylinder 24 is adapted to-be rotated. The tank 27 is adapted to be moved upward relative to the cylinder 24 so as to bring the cleaning .means into proper engagement with the cylinder. Whenever desired, the tank 27 may be lowered out of contact with the cylinder and drawn out from under the cylinder into position upon a table 28 suitably supported upon the framework 29, in which position the cleaning means can be adjusted as desired.

' The tank 27- is provided with plates 30-31 ilviding it longitudinally into three com- 'partments, in each of which is placed a bag 32 formed of mole-skin cloth filled with cut sponges, or other suitable absorbent material. The tank 27 is adapted to be filled with water containing a heavy solution of pearlasli, or other suitable detergent. At

the side of the tank 27 toward which the lower portion of the-cylinder 24 moves in the rotation of the cylinder in clockwise di rection in Fig. 2, is inserted a plate or block 33 of rubber or other suitable material. The

- block 33 is adapted to'be pressed inward into contact with the cylinder 24 by means of a series of screws 34 which are mounted in the side of the tank '27 and engage at.

their inner ends a steel plate or plates 35 against which the rubber block 34 lies. The tank 27 is adapted to be moved upward to bring the bags 32 into proper engagement with the cylinder 24 by means of screws 36-37 which are loosely journaled in crossbars 38-39, respectively, suitable manner to the framework '29 Mounted by means ofJscreW-threads upon the upper ends of the screws 36-37 is a plate 40 upon which the tank 27 rests. The

lower ends of the screws 36-37 are provided with bevel-gears 41-42, respectively, meshing with bevel-gears 43-44 which are mounted upon a longitudinally-extending shaft 45 carried. by cross-bars 46-47 suitably supported from the framework 29. A crank 48 is mounted upon one end of the secured in any ployed upon the water mechanisms 62-63 is designed to shaft 45 for rotating the said shaft for driving the screws 36-37 for raising and lowering the plate 40 and with it' the tank 27. As will be readily understood, when the plate 40 is lowered to its lowermost position, the edges of the tank 27 are brought to rest upon flanges 49-50 of the frame work, upon which flanges the. tank may be drawn longitudinally into position upon the table.28.'

Additional means is provided comprising two combination transfer and impression cylinders 51-52 adapted to be revolved in contact with each other. .Plate-cylinders 53-54 are adapted to be revolved in contact with the cylinders 51-52, respectively,

mechanisms 56-57 are provided for inking the plates upon the cylinders 53-54, respectively. The inking-mechanism 56 comprises two inking-fountains 58-59, and the inking-mechanism 57 comprises two inkfountains 60-61. The plate-cylinders 53-54 are adapted to be rotated in either direction as hereinafter described. When the plates are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, the ink-fountains 58 and 60 will be employed, together with means for transferring the ink from such fountains; when the plate-cylinders 53-54 are rotated in the opposite directions, the ink-fountains 59'and-61 will be employed with their transferring mechanisms.

Two water mechanisms 62-63 are provided in connection with the plate-cylinder 54, either or both of which can be moved back out of engagement with the plates upon such cylinder, or otherwise thrown out of operation. As will be readily understood, when the plate-cylinder 54 is rotated in counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, when lithographic plates are mounted upon said plate-cylinder, the water mechanism 62 will-be\:nplo'yed for moistening such lithographic plates in advance of the inking of such inking-mechanism 57. When inder 54 rotates in the opposite 'lates by the the plate-cyl direction, the

When relief printing platesare being emthe cylinder 54, neither one of be used.

With the plate-cylinders 12 and 13 provided with lithograph-icplates and with the plate-cylinders 53-54 provided with printing plates, and with the various parts being rotated by any suitable means in the directions indicated by the arrows, the web from the roll 26 will be passed about the impres- -sion cylinder 11 and thence between the operation and the ink-fountains 58'and being provided with black ink, the web would be completed upon both sides by its I passage between the combination transfer and impression cylinders 51752, the transfer cylinder 51'makihg a complete design on the one side-of the paper and the transfer cylinder -52. applying the key impression upon the already partly completed opposite face. If it were desired that the plate-cylinder 54'be provided with lithographic plates rather than printing plates, the water mech-' anism 62 would be employed. for moistening such lithographic plates. Any other color of ink might be employed in the fountain 60 if desired. In such operation of the machine. the rollers 2223 and the cylinder 24 in combination with the devices cooperating therewith serve to keep'the transfer cylinder 10 clean during the web-perfecting operation. If it were desired, similar cleaning mechanism might be employed, in connection with the transfer cylinder 52, as will be readily understood. 7

In case it were desired to produce a multicolor product by the use ofprinting plates in lieu of lithographic plates in the manner above described, the various'cylinders and inking mechanisms would be rotated in the opposite directions from those indicated by the arrows on Fig.1 In that case inkingfountains 18, 21, 59 and 61 would be used in lieu of the fountains 19-20, 58 and 60, as above described. The web 25 would be led from the roll 26 about the impression cylinder 10 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,

receiving the impression directly from the printing plates rather than from an interposed t'ransfer cylinder. The composition rollers'2223 will preferably have been re-' moved so as to permit the web 25 to pass from the impression cylinder 10 to a roller 64 from which the web would pass downward about the impression cylinder 52, be tween the cylinders 52-51, upward about the impression cylinder 51, and downward under the. roller 65, producing thus a perfected web in colors.

What I claim as my lnvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Ina press, the cornbinatlon of a transfer cylinder, a plate cylmder adapted to revolve'in contact therewith, means for applying water to the surface of lithographic plates carried by said plate cylinder, inking mechanism adapted to ink said plates, and means for cleaning the ink from said transfer' cylinder, comprising a cylinder, a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, absorbent means located in said receptacle in contact with said cylinder, and means for adjusting said receptacle relative to said cyl: inder.

2. In a press, the combination of a transfer cylinder, a plate cylinder adapted to revolve in contact therewith, means for applying water to the surface of lithographic plates carried by said plate cylinder, inking mechanism adapted to ink said plates,.and means for cleaning the ink from said transfer cylinder, comprising two composition rollers adapted to rotate in contact with said transfer cylinder, an iron-surfaced cylinder adapted to rotate in contact with said composition rollers, "a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, absorbent means located in said 'receptacle in contact with said cylinmechanism "adaptedto ink said plates, and

means for cleaning the ink from said transfer. cylinder,-comprising a cylinder, a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, means 'for adjusting said receptacle relative to said cylinder, and one or more bags of moleskincloth filled with cut sponges in position in said receptacle adapted to be brought into firm contact with said cylinder.

4. In a press, the combination of a transfer cylinder, a plate cylinder adapted to revolve in contact therewith, means for applying water to the surface of lithographic plates carried by said plate cylinder, inking mechanism adapted to ink said plates, and means for cleaning the ink fromsaid transfer cylinder, comprising a cylinder, a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, means for adjusting said receptacle relative to said cylinder, an absorbent member located in said receptacle and adapted to be brought into firm contact with said cylinder, and a detergent solution in said receptacle about said absorbent member. 5.- In a press, thevc'ombination of a transfe'r'cylinder, a plate cylinder adapted to revolve in contact therewith, means for applying water to the surface of lithographic plates carried by said plate cylinder, inking mechanism adapted to ink said plates, and

means for cleaning the ink from said transfer cylinder, comprising a cylinder, a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, means for adjusting said receptacle relative to said cylinder, one or. more bags of moleskin cloth filled with cut sponges located in said receptacle and adapted to be brought into firm contact with said cylinder, and a detergent for adjusting said. receptacle relative to said cylinder, means for dividing said receptacle into a plurality of compartments, a bag of moleskin cloth filled with cut sponges located in each of said compartments and adapted to be brought into firm contact with said cylinder, and a detergent solution in said receptacle about said bags.

7. In a press, the combination of a transfer cylinder, a plate cylinder adapted to revolve in contact therewith, means for applying water to the surface of lithographic plates carried by said plate cylinder, inking mechanism adapted tofink said plates, and means for cleaning the ink from said transfer cylinder, comprising a cylinder, a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, means foradjusting said receptacle relative to said cylinder, an absorbent member located in said receptacle and adapted to be broughtinto firm contact with said cylinder, a de-' tergent solution in said receptacle about said absorbent member, and a squeegee device carried by said receptacle adapted to be pressed firmly against; said cylinder for drying the cylinder after its contact with said absorbent member.

8. In a press, the combination of a trans amass? fer cylinder, a plate cylinder adapted to said'receptacle and adaptedto be brought into firm contact with said-cylinder, a detergent solution in said receptacle about said absorbent member, a squeegee device carried by said receptacle for drying the cylinder after its contact with said absorbent member, and means for moving said squeegee device relative to said receptacle for pressing the said squeegee device firmly against the cylinder.

9. In a press, the combination of a transfer cylinder, a plate cylinder adapted to revolve in contact therewith, means for applying water to the surface of lithographic plates carried by said plate cylinder, inking mechanism adapted to ink said plates, and means for cleaning the ink from said transfer cylinder, comprising a cylinder, a receptacle in which said cylinder is rotated, means for adjusting said receptacle relative to said cylinder, an absorbent member located in said receptacle and adapted to be brought into firm contact with said cylinder, a detergent solution in said receptacle about said absorbent member, a squeegee device carried by said receptacle for drying the cylinder after its contact with said absorbent member, and a screw carried by said receptacle and bearing, on said squeegeedevice for moving the said squeegee device firmly into contact with'said cylinder.

JOSEPH L. FIRM. 

